Turbo timers...

[mark-ashley]

I bought an Apexi turbo timer ages ago and have never fitted it due to not being able to find one of the sensor wires to tap it onto, the O2 sensor i believe...
 
Anyways, i\'ve read various opinions on them ranging from essential kit to not really required...
 
What are your opinions and if they are a worthwhile addition, where\'s the 02 sensor cable and what colour is it, i\'ve already installed the harness under the sterring column...
 
I\'m having an Apexi FC installed also, not sure if the turbo timer would interfere with that ?

[AtomicRex]

Why do you want one??
 
Personally I think they are a waste of time!  Why not run your car off boost for the last 1-2 minutes?
 
The whole idea of running it is to cool the turbo down, my thoughts are that at idle there is so little oil pressure (Waiting to be flamed on this one) so you aren\'t going to get that much flow through the system.
 
Doesn\'t it affect your insurance?  Walking off and leaving your car running??
 
So as said, save yourself cash...and lift the throttle for the last 2 minutes...it isn\'t that long!!

[rx jamie]

ive had one on every single turbo car ive owned as they were on when i bought them. i think they are an excellent party trick for confusing people and getting funny looks when you leave the car running when popping into to a shop etc. but not essential at all in my opion. perhaps maybe when you are in a rush to get somewhere and dont have time to slow drive for the last few miles. but id never intentionally buy one.

[SiH]

It\'s technically illegal to leave a car running with no-one in it, if that\'s of any matter...

I had one, it was a waste of time - as above, it\'s far better just to not tool it for the last few miles of driving, park up, get your sh!t together, get out the car, then take keys out of the ignition.

[peterwolds]

It\'s technically illegal to leave a car running with no-one in it, if that\'s of any matter...

I had one, it was a waste of time - as above, it\'s far better just to not tool it for the last few miles of driving, park up, get your sh!t together, get out the car, then take keys out of the ignition.

spot on it is illegal to leave a car running whilst its unattended

[mark-ashley]

Guess i\'ll be ebaying it then !

[grinder]

i have one on the cab

its quite handy actually - drive home , park car up , turn car off ( turbo timer kicks in ) , remove keys , lock car up , wait for car to turn off .. simples

mine only works with the hand brake ON - so of you do smash a window and release the hand brake - it turns itself off anyways

[AtomicRex]

Guess i\'ll be ebaying it then !

I would!
 

[trotter]

Ive got one, but very rarely use it.

All that happens is that when the car is sitting still with the engine on, all the heat is remaining in the engine bay. Surely it makes more sense to drive off-boost for the last wee bittie so you can use the outside air passing through to cool it down.

[Nik da Greek]

As in most replies here, I\'ve got one (came with the alarm, which is Thatcham approved, go figure! Conflict of legality/insurance cover alert!) but I almost never use it. Used to use it a fair bit until I fitted a decent aftermarket temp gauge, and saw how the engine temperature rocketed whilst it was just sat there rumbling away at idle in the garage. Not convinced they really help much, tbh

[peterwolds]

i have one on the cab

its quite handy actually - drive home , park car up , turn car off ( turbo timer kicks in ) , remove keys , lock car up , wait for car to turn off .. simples

mine only works with the hand brake ON - so of you do smash a window and release the hand brake - it turns itself off anyways

Stu i cant believe the MRC\'s official tight ass hasnt sussed that he is using fuel up running turbo timer

[Big Al]

This is an interesting thread, as like others my car arrived with a timer. Nik seems to have summed it up with the aftermarket temp gauge reading.
 
Mine also works until the handbrake or foot brake are operated, so security is not too much of a problem. Guess that officer Dibble wouldn\'t agree though !!

[grinder]

Stu i cant believe the MRC\'s official tight ass hasnt sussed that he is using fuel up running turbo timer

LOL - based on that the car only probably gets filled up about 4 times a year - i dont worry about it !! LOL

it usually gives me chance to get all my stuff together and get the roof up and then it turns it self off

mine has a wierd setting that runs for xx seconds based on driving style - if you boot it down the motorway and look at it - it wants to run for over 8 mins - but sometimes i will pull up on the drive and it only runs for 10-12 seconds and then turns off

no idea how it does this - not sure if it works it from battery voltage ( harder you drive - more voltage , or if it takes a feed from the rev counter ?? )

Stu

( i THINK its a HKS Type 0 ?? )

[rustyrex]

I never use my turbo timer as i have the same deal as grinder,it said i had to leave the car running for 20 minutes!!!!!!!so dont bother with it,just drive off boost for a few minutes before shutdown,if its a hot day or i am more paranoid than usual i shut off the engine but leave the turbo timer run the a/c fans for a couple of minutes to circulate any underbonnet heat!:Thumbs-up

[m1tch]

Also turbo timers are great for theives who want a short cut to the starter motor lol its why mine it attached to a cat 1 alarm lol